At the onset of Parshat Vayetzei we encounter our forefather Yaakov fleeing from his brother Esav. Tired and distressed, Yaakov decides to stop to rest in Beit-El. It is there that he has a dream when he envisions a ladder with angels ascending and descending to and from the heavens, and he hears G-d's promise to protect him along his journey and return him safely to his homeland.  The Torah describes Yaakov's astonishment upon awakening, "Yaakov awoke from his sleep and said, 'Indeed, the L-rd is in this place, and I was unaware.'  He was frightened and said, 'How awesome is this place; this can only be a house of G-d, and this is the gate of the heavens!'" (28:16-17).

Many commentators are puzzled as to why Yaakov Avinu was seemingly so surprised  that such a vision could occur at this location. Why did Yaakov have this reaction?

The Shadal  (19th century, Italy) explains that Yaakov was critical of himself for having been distressed over his journey and that perhaps, in his distress, he cursed that site. According to the Shadal, when Yaakov was forced to lie down and sleep along the road, he felt embittered over his plight.  He resented that he had to flee from his brother and travel all the way to Charan, a journey that required him to sleep out in the open, on the ground, without proper provisions.  In his physical discomfort and emotional turmoil, the Shadal speculates that Yaakov may have been driven to wish ill will on his situation and location. However,

A meaningful lesson emerges from the Shadal's understanding of these verses.  Often in life we find ourselves in situations and places which we would have much preferred to avoid, challenges and difficulties which we would ideally never wish to confront.  At times, however, we will discover, like Yaakov, that these situations are really "the house of G-d, the gates of the heavens" and they may somehow prove to be far more beneficial than we would have ever imagined.  Just as Yaakov was surprised to discover that the dusty, rocky road to Charan could become "the house of G-d," so too may we find -- in whatever unpleasant situations we are forced to confront--positive experiences that, as in the case of Yaakov, give us strength and confidence for the long journey ahead.